Oswestry School officially opened the doors to its magnificent new Grove Performing Arts Centre on Saturday 5 September, marking the culmination of an ambitious £1.5 million fundraising campaign.
The special ‘Curtains Up’ event brought together supporters, benefactors and many of the people whose generosity, vision and hard work made this transformational project possible. Guests included Helen Morgan MP, representatives from Oswestry Town Council and Shropshire Council, and members of the Shropshire Lieutenancy.
Guests were welcomed with drinks on The Gittins Family Terrace, overlooking the Centre’s newly landscaped gardens, accompanied by acoustic background music from Parkin & Heys.
In an inspiring address, Headmaster Peter Middleton shared the remarkable news that, only that morning, he had received a telephone call from a generous benefactor pledging the final £60,000 required to complete the campaign. The donation means that the School’s £1.5 million fundraising target has now officially been reached, providing a fitting and memorable finale to the project’s fundraising journey.
Peter Wilcox-Jones, now in his 27th year as Chair of Governors at Oswestry School, was given the honour of cutting the ribbon and officially declaring The Grove Performing Arts Centre open.
Following the ceremony, guests were invited to explore the impressive new facilities for themselves. They were able to take their place on the stage, step backstage and experience the auditorium seating, as well as tour the Centre’s specialist studios, changing rooms, rehearsal spaces and additional facilities.
Local construction firm Jones Brothers carried out the building work, and their expertise and craftsmanship helped bring the School’s ambitious vision for the Centre to life.
The opening is particularly fitting in a year in which Oswestry School will celebrate both the 620th anniversary of its founding and the 250th anniversary of its relocation to the Upper Brook Street site. Against the backdrop of these important milestones, the launch of The Grove marks another groundbreaking moment in the School’s long and storied history; celebrating its proud heritage while looking confidently towards an exciting future.
The Grove Performing Arts Centre will provide an exceptional environment in which Oswestry School pupils can discover and develop their talents across music, drama and dance. Its impact will also extend far beyond the School, with the theatre, studios and rehearsal spaces creating exciting opportunities for local performers, groups and members of the wider community.
The official opening celebrated an extraordinary collective achievement and offered heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the vision for The Grove. With the ribbon cut, the fundraising target achieved and the doors officially open, the stage is now set for an exciting new chapter for Oswestry School and the community.
