PRESS RELEASE  20/03/2008

The Paul Butler Memorial Kit  Practice spaces for young musicians 

Funders and press were given an exclusive preview yesterday of Cinderford SoundSpace an exciting new music rehearsal and recording facility which has just been completed by Forest of Dean Music Makers in a joint project with Heywood School, Cinderford.

 A presentation by Project Leader Mark Bick and Music Makers Director Jo Harris explained the struggle to raise funds to complete this project and the contribution of young people to that work.  Mark due attention to recent national developments:                                                                                                                                                    

 “The Government have just started encouraging the creation of more facilities like this – we in Cinderford are ahead of the game” 

Funder representatives from  South West Regional Development Agency, Arts Council England, Gloucestershire Environmental Trust, the District and County Councils and Cinderford Regeneration, together with senior staff and a Governor from the school were then given the opportunity to see the building in action and try out the music equipment for themselves with help from the young people.

 Professor Adrian Phillips CBE, chairman of Gloucestershire Environmental Trust said:  “you have made it possible to give young people from Cinderford and the Forest an opportunity to be creative. It will surely help to make many lives richer than they would otherwise have been”  Paul Holliday, from the same trust said “Unique is the only word that fits this project, firstly the concept, and then the final result”  Ken Bush, Head Teacher of Heywood School said “This event proves the point that music really can transform young people’s lives!”

 Cinderford SoundSpace is now open for bookings from musicians, bands, schools and other groups. Adults are allowed - they just have to pay more!!

Photos, attendance list and Government press release on rehearsal spaces, press packs with CD ROMs of photos, audio tracks and background information are available. We will have more photos of the event available next week.

 Mark Bick Project Leader

List of attendees

Throughout the building project we had used the name “Cinderford MusicSpace”, but we recently found out that there is a registered charity called Bristol MusicSpace and Gloucestershire MusicSpace who offer music therapy as there was a risk of confusion we set up a competition to find a new name.  The winner was decided last night and is:

 ”Cinderford SoundSpace” 

The winner has donated the prize back to Music Makers.

Some of us quite liked “Loud Little Bouncy Bungalow” but thought it might look a bit silly on the side of the building.  

 The name will be available in a coloured design soon!

This will take place at Splinters and the new building on Weds 19th March 2008. Open to any accredited press and invited funders.  We hope to have a public celebration event on a Saturday later in the year with live bands on an outside stage.

 Mark.

This is now purchased and set up - thanks Dan for all your work on this. Was tuned by Tim Coleman last week. It looks and sounds great - see picture. Second floor tom still to be delivered - it has to come from China.

On May Bank holiday 2006, Paul Butler, a 17 year old drummer died suddenly as a result of his long term diabetes. Paul had started playing 4 years previously at a Music Makers summer school, had been a regular attender at our after school clubs ever since. He was the drummer with local band Maro Phat Peas who had played at nearly all the Music Makers gigs.

Mark Bick, Music Makers Project Leader, in his tribute at Paul’s Funeral said ” I will never forget Paul, He was such a great example of determination winning through. That determination took him on a journey from awkward 13 year old, struggling to keep a beat, to fluent rock drummer, in action with Maro Phat Peas, playing to a big and enthusiastic audience. I hope that he will be an inspiration to the younger generations of this town, that they can achieve dreams, they can do great things”

When he was just 13, Paul had helped make an applicaiton to the Children’s Fund Community Chest

www.gloschildrensfund.ik.com/p_CommunityChest.ikml

which paid for the green Pearl Export ELX drum kit that is still in use in the new building, he also worked with his fellow band members to raise £60K from the Youth Capital Fund *LINK * for the new building and equipment. We are convinced that his charm when they met the (mostly female) members of the Youth Panel played a significant part in getting the grant!

Some of the members of Paul’s band were volunteers at the Forest of Dean Fitness Centre. The Trustees of the Centre have funded a top quality drum kit in memory of Paul. The kit was chosen by young people including Paul’s younger brother, with support from the project leader.

Grrrr…….   An engineer came in last Friday to set up the heating and ventilation system and the boiler would not work.  It had been salvaged from the old building as it had hardly been used and was working when it was re-installed and not used since.  It seems the circuit board needs replacing and even that may not solve the problem.

 Meanwhile ……..  the decorators have disappeared leaving two days work to do as they have other urgent work (they are doing a special cut price deal for us so we can’t complain).  We need the carpenters in to sort the final fitting of the rubber seals on the doors, but they are not available for another week.

Photos of the work on the building

 Mark.

Heywood after school club has started up again, still in the school until the new building is open. Earlier start time.

Thursday 3.10pm to 5.10.

Anyone aged 11 to 16 is welcome. If you are not a Heywood student you will need to sign in at reception.

Mark Bick 11/11/07

Tom, Dan and James are now working on decorating. The walls are nearly all done, working on the doors - loads to do - two doors for each of the soundproofed rooms.

Mark 12/11/07