Local musician Tim Guttridge dreamed of setting up a charity to create musical opportunities for the people of Welshpool, but it never quite happened. After his death at the end of last year, at just 35, Tim's friends and family decided that they would set up the Tim Guttridge Community, to make his dreams for the town come true. Already, over £800 has been raised in memory of Tim.
His wife, Lauren Guttridge, said: "It seemed like the time to do it. We wanted to give something that was going to go back to the community and that Tim was really quite passionate about."
The Tim Guttridge Community will provide musical and recording equipment for the community create performance projects and affordable entertainment for Welshpool. Alongside music, the Community will also seek to relieve personal crisis by providing practical support such as food and small financial grants where nothing else is available.
When Lauren was sorting through Tim's belongings, she found paperwork for registering as a charity.
"We just wanted to carry on with what he was trying to do. It would be a shame to let that go," said Lauren.
The charity has been called a Community to pay homage to Tim's "upbringing and beliefs", Lauran said. Although Tim was a Christian and Lauren wasn't, they both agreed with the sense of the community the church brought into their congregations.
There are already a number of projects lined up for the future, such as transforming Welshpool Music Festival and creating events for May Bank Holiday and New Year's Eve.
"Everything will be going straight back into the community and will entertain people", Lauren said.
A Service of Celebration for the Life of Tim will be held at Welshpool Town Hall on Saturday, February 2 from 1pm. Prior to this, there will be a private service at Shrewsbury Crematorium at 10am. Anyone wishing to attend this service is welcome to do so, but the family ask you let them know beforehand so they have an idea of numbers.
To donate to the Tim Guttridge Community, visit: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tgmcommunity
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