NEWBURY’S new community and arts venue, Ace Space, was filled to capacity last Friday evening as local musicians played for free to raise money to help a much-valued corner shop stay in business.
Jacqui Finch, who has run ‘Jacqui’s’ shop in Blenheim Road, Newbury, for 10 years, has been burgled twice this year. The benefit concert was held to raise money for some security shutters for the shop, which serves the West Fields area of Newbury.
The target for the evening was £1,682, which covered the shutters, the planning application and hire of the hall. In the event over £1,750 was raised. The surplus will be donated to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance Appeal, nominated by Jacqui Finch, who spoke of the ‘overwhelming response’ to the appeal.
Musicians taking part were the Blue Trees (Nikki Clutton and Dave Green); guitarists Gavin Wilkinson and Adrian Hickman, playing with singer Maia Hendrickx; Paul Kissaun; Idle Words (Jenifer Klepfer and Tom Medhurst); and Odis Palmer. Adam Kotz, chairman and moving force of Ace Space, performed with Steve Murphy and Tim Emery: for one night only they were known as the Shiny Shutters Band.
Raffle prizes were donated by shop customers, local residents and local businesses, including Newbury Building Society, the Corn Exchange, Tiger Tiger, Flutterby’s, Jim’s Gardening Services and Encore, along with Hewlett Packard and Bayer.
Kim Hodges chaired the committee which organised the event, Maia Hendrickx organised the musicians, and Hogan Music supplied the PA and other equipment.