30th July 2015

Brompton’s donate £10,000 worth of instruments to Urswick School

We are delighted to announce Brompton’s recent donation of much needed instruments and bows to Urswick School in Hackney, London.

The project started when John Rubinstein, current master of The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, initially contacted Brompton’s with the idea sourcing some violins for the school. From there the plan took off – and in total £10,000 worth of violins, cellos, bows, and their cases were donated. The Cordwainers have a long-standing commitment to helping this recently rejuvenated and venerable school, founded in 1520 – and we are happy to be part of this tradition.

The donation was made with the great generosity of James Hawkins, Brompton’s freelance luthier, who was commissioned to get the instruments into playing order, and of course Mr Rubinstein himself who kindly funded the instrument refurbishment and purchase of new cases for the lucky recipients.

We are all looking forward to hearing the instruments being played in earnest once term commences in September, and will post further info on the development of the string classes. Anyone interested in donating classical instruments to the school should contact Anne Bastille.  For more information about the Urswick school, should visit their website here.

Pictured L-R: John Rubinstein (Master of The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers), Rebecca Gough (Head of Music), Peter Horner (Brompton’s Director) and Richard Brown (Headteacher of Urswick School) in front of the school’s groaning trophy cabinet.