Ben Gray was an awesome guitarist. It is one of the things that his mum, Isabel Lockhart, misses most about him. Sitting listening to him as he played some of her favourite 70s and 80s tunes. He has the ability to listen to a track a couple of times and them play it!
When he died, his guitars were sitting collecting dust and Isabel felt guilty about it. After unsuccessfully trying to sell on one of them, she decided to gift it to a charity to auction.
A serendipitous meeting with Anna Eardley led to an introduction to and a meeting with the founder of Music4U, Debra Baxter. Debra, however, had a different idea for the guitar. It wasn’t going to be sold. Instead, she planned to start a program called Ben’s Guitar and the guitar would be used to teach students! However, funding was needed to get it underway and that took time.
In March 2024, Ben’s Guitar was launched and Isabel had an emotion visit to one of the sessions where she heard Ben’s guitar being played. She said that it was like being reunited with an old friend!
On the 29th of September it will be five years to the day since Ben died and Isabel has collaborated with Music4U to organise a fundraising memorial in Ben’s memory. (Link below). “You don’t need to have known Ben to attend. It’s about raising the profile and much needed funds for Music4U”.
Included in the ticked price is live entertainment provided by the students of Music4U, a raffle, food and a bar. Oh and a game of bingo like no other! It is a family friendly affair with doors opening at 2pm.
See you there!
https://www.m4u.org.uk/rockin