A budding saxophonist is over the moon after a New Blackmore Vale reader came forward with £500 to enable him to achieve his dreams. Tom Sheppard, 17, from Sturminster Marshall, has been playing on a very basic sax and borrowed instruments for a long time – managing to get through exams despite the instrument not really being up to the job.
As reported in Edition 30 (12th November) of the New Blackmore Vale Magazine, Tom won the 2021 Dee Butterfield Scholarship for Young People with his lecture on The Battle of Hastings and scooped £250. A new sax was still a way off, as the instruments aren’t cheap.
However an anonymous donor has come forward with another £500, putting his dream sax within reach. Tom has been playing for seven years and is involved in a number of school bands and has participated in many performances, including playing at the Swanage Jazz Festival.
His mum Stacey said: “I can’t believe it – it’s so amazing. I’ve never had anything like that happen before, it was so out of the blue. “I was in complete shock when this lady said she wanted to give us £500 towards the saxophone. She’s such a lovely lady. Like a fairy godmother for Christmas!”
Tom said: “After much deliberation, I have decided to get a Yamaha 280. This is better than I could have ever imagined and is such a significant upgrade from my current saxophone. This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredibly generous donation and the original bursary, for which I cannot thank them enough.”
Tom’s award from the Mackrell Charity was an annual scholarship set up in memory of Dee Butterfield, the charity’s former president and inspiration, to provide an opportunity for a young person to pursue a personal ambition.
Young people aged between 11 and 19 who live near the town, are encouraged to apply for the award next year. Applications must be received by midnight on June 30, 2022, and should be sent to: The Mackrell Charity, c/o The Old School, Church Street, Sturminster Marshall, BH21 4BU
By Miranda Robertson
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