Musical couple plan their swan song after 46 years (From Stroud News and Journal)

Musical couple plan their swan song after 46 years

STROUD'S only music shop will close within the next six months when its owner retires after 46 years of trading.

Stroud Music Centre is one of the oldest shops in the town but owner David Smith, 73, has decided the time has come to call it a day.

He said: "Because my staff are coming to retirement, or have already retired, it is time for us to consider our own and have some more leisure time. It's a wrench to even think about giving up but we have to be sensible."

The familiar sprawling four-floor premises at 49 London Road will be sold but Mr Smith hopes someone else might want to put the renowned name above another premises.

"I think there's somebody out there who perhaps would jump at the chance of acquiring a well established music firm," he said.

"If someone could get a small shop, with the goodwill of the business here, they've got a ready-made platform."

Mr Smith and his wife Mary, 72, of Brimscombe, opened Stroud Music Centre in August 1957 after selling their home to buy and stock the premises, which once housed a book shop called Sesame.

It was extended to house everything from pianos to tuning forks, with the basement used for instrument repairs and the upper floors for teaching.

For almost five decades the shop has been a Mecca for aspiring musicians from near and far, with many regular customers going on to become professional musicians.

Mrs Smith said: "There are a lot of good local youngsters roundabout. Many have gone onto become professional soloists and some of them still visit us when they are back down here," she said.

Both husband and wife are themselves accomplished musicians.

Mary trained at London's Royal Academy of Music and before her marriage to David played piano accompaniment for an array of London soloists and even the Welsh Male Voice Choir.

But her priorities changed on meeting her husband-to-be - then organist and choirmaster at St Mary's Church, Painswick at a Cheltenham piano recital.

"It was a rather short career because we started the business and I gave up most of it but I still do a bit of teaching and accompanying," she said.

That teaching has included stints at Stroud High School and Cheltenham Ladies College.

For the last 25 years Mr Smith has been honorary representative of the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music, arranging for county candidates to take their music exams in Stroud.

Both would be saddened if the closure of Stroud Music Centre at 49 London Road sounded the death knell for music retail in the town.

Mr Smith said: "It is a shop that has been greatly appreciated and it's closure will be a sad loss to the town and surrounding area.

"One of our main considerations is that there will be a music shop in Stroud. We have some many loyal customers and it is our intention, if possible, for them to have access to a local music shop into the future," he said.