Guitar legend cuts ribbon at new charity store
12/01/15. Left to right – Guitar legend Gordon Giltrap and founder of the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust Sue Sollis at the opening of the charities new shop in Library Arcade off Evesham High Street.. Picture by Nick Toogood.

Guitar legend Gordon Giltrap was the front man at the opening of a new charity store in Evesham this week.

The new Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust Home Furnishing Store was officially opened by Mr Giltrap, a patron of the Evesham based charity, alongside founder, Sue Sollis.

A welcoming crowd greeted the arrival of the guitarist on Monday (January 12) for the event next door to the current charity shop in Evesham’s Library Arcade.

There was applause as the ribbon was cut and the store declared “well and truly open” by Mr Giltrap, who has been supporting Mrs Sollis and the foundation she set in memory of her daughter Tracy Sollis.

The trust’s new venture has the backing of local businesses, Evesham Self Drive, Car and Van Hire which will be providing a vehicle for all pick-ups and deliveries, and Bradford Carpets, which is donating many items of stock.

Mrs Sollis said: “My grateful thanks to everyone who made the day such a success. Special thanks to our dedicated patron Gordon Giltrap, and the marvellous team of volunteers who worked extremely hard towards getting the premises ready in time.

“The day was very encouraging with many complementary comments about the new premises and the reasonable pricing of items.”

Everyone who came along was made very welcome and enjoyed home-made cakes provided by volunteers Claire Sandalls and Marion Bratt.

(Picture and text above from Evesham Journal )

Gordon Giltrap writes:

As you know it has been my privilege to be a patron for nearly 21 years of the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust, and as patron I was asked to attend the official shop opening in Evesham on Monday January 12th. It’s a cracking new shop next door to her existing one but has more space for furniture and suchlike. The local press were there to witness Sue Sollis and I cut the ribbon.

It was a good day and it does the heart good to see so many people give of themselves to charitable causes. Sue has so many friends helping out, and the opening was accompanied by tea, coffee, mince pies and homemade cupcakes.. yum yum.

We wish Sue great success with this lovely new shop. I shall be doing my annual concert at The Fleece in Bretforton in May.